It was pure coincidence last season when University of the Pacific ended up on the Gonzaga schedule that the Tigers would become members of the West Coast Conference this season.

SPOKANE, Wash. - It was pure coincidence last season when University of the Pacific ended up on the Gonzaga University schedule that the Tigers would become members of the West Coast Conference this season.

But such was the case when the Tigers officially joined the West Coast Conference – for the second time – July 1, 2013. Pacific was a charter member of the then-West Coast Athletic Conference which began as a basketball conference in 1953. Pacific was in the conference until 1971 and most recently had been a member of the Big West Conference.

Saturday will be the fifth meeting all-time between the Bulldogs and the Tigers with the Bulldogs holding a 3-1 edge in the series dating back to an 85-83 Gonzaga road win in 1959. Prior to last season the teams hadn’t met since Dec. 23, 1976, when the Tigers won their only game of the series 70-60. Gonzaga claimed a 51-48 victory Nov. 29, 1975.

Saturday’s concludes a stretch of four straight West Coast Conference home games in a span of eight days for Gonzaga. The Bulldogs take to the road for the first time in WCC play this season when they visit Portland next Thursday in the lone action of the week for the Zags.

Center Sam Dower Jr., returned to action Thursday against Saint Mary’s. He played seven minutes and had no statistics. Dower had missed the first two West Coast Conference games with a back injury suffered Dec. 21 in a hard fall against Kansas State in a game played in Wichita, Kans.

Gary Bell Jr., remains on the injured list with a broken right hand suffered against Santa Clara. He is expected to be out four-to-six weeks.